Multiple filament lamp



Oct. 8, 1940. PANE 7 2,217,134

MULTIPLE FILAMENT LAMP Filed Jan. 51, 1959 Q B. Paz'n INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED sTATEs PATENT .oFFIcE; 5

MULTIPLE FILAMENTLAMP Oliver B. Paine, Fulton, N. Y.

Application January 31, 1939, Serial No. 253,845

1 Claim.

My invention relates to electric lamps, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved multiple filament lamp.

An object of my invention is to provide an 5 electric lamp embodying a plurality of filaments wherein novel means are incorporated for bringing the difierent circuits into operation. The filaments may be of equal or different wattage and candle-power. The chief feature being the provision of a lamp having a plurality of filaments so arranged that a new filament may easily be brought into operation in the event that the first filament becomes broken.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electric lamp embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the base end of the 20 p;

Figure 4 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

25 Figure 6 is a detail view of a. three-wire circuit arrangement; and

Figure '7 is a detail view of a four-circuit wire arrangement.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my 30 invention, the electric lamp I includes the usual globe l2 and base l4. Base [4 includes a body I6 of insulating material, provided with a socket l8 for the end 20 of the globe. A screw contact shell 22 is anchored to the body I6. 35 Globe 12 includes a post 24 which carries arms 26, 28 and 30. Arms 26 and 30 support filaments 32 and 34. A common wire 36 is supported by the arm 28 and is electrically connected with each of the filaments 32 and 34 as well as with 40 the contact sleeve 22, as illustrated at 36. Filament 32 is connected with a wire 40 which is connected with a terminal screw 42 carried by a plate 44 comprising a cover for a housing 46. Similarly, filament 34 is connected with a wire 45 48 which is connected with a terminal screw 50 carried by the plate 44.

Housing 46 is anchored in a recess 52 in a body 54 of insulating material which is positioned inside the contact shell 22, the latter being crimped 50 or flanged inwardly at 56 to extend partly across one face of the body 54. Housing 46 includes a tubular neck 58 through which a contact pin 60 extends, the latter being provided with a flared head 10 constituting the central contact for the 55 electric lamp. Pin 60 is rotatably related to the neck 58 and has secured to its inner end a contact or conducting arm 12. Pin 68 is grooved at 14 for the reception of a key 16 fixedly related to the housing 46 to restrain the pin from relative longitudinal movement outwardly of the neck 58. The free end of the switch arm 12. is dished at 18, and the terminal screws 42 and 50 include rounded heads 80 arranged for selective reception in the dished area 18. Switch arm 12 may be moved into conducting relation with either of the terminal screws through rotation of the pin 60. The heads 80 hold the switch arm 12 under slight fiexure so that the arm will be effectively supported against accidental displacement when one of the heads lies in the f filament 32. The latter is electrically connected with the contact sleeve 22 through the medium of the wire 36. Similarly, the filament 34 may be electrically connected with the contact 10 through rotation thereof for bringing the switch arm 12 into conducting relation with the terminal screw 50. It will thus be seen that I have provided a construction in which a new filament may be brought into play in the event that the first filament is broken or otherwise rendered inoperative. Housing 46 incloses the switch mechanism through the medium of which the filaments may be selectively brought into the circuit, and the central contact H1 constitutes an operating element through the medium of which the switch may be manipulated for bringing the other filament into the circuit. The entire switch structure is housed inside the base structure of the electric lamp, but the switch is easily adjusted or rendered accessible through mere removal of the electric lamp from its socket. Head 10 may be provided with a slot 82 for the reception of a screw driver to facilitate turning. The outer face of the body 54 may be provided with lines or other marks 84 and 86 which indicate location of the terminal screws 42 and 50. Switch arm 12 aligns with the slot 82 so'that the switch arm may be easily positioned in proper conducting relation with one of the terminal screws by merely bringing the slot into alignment with one of the guide marks. Onev end of the slot 82 is provided with an arrow head 88 to indicate the direction of projection of the" switch arm 12.

Figure 6 illustrates a plan view of the plate 44, with the plate provided with three terminal screws 90. These screws correspond to the terminal screws 42 and 50, and illustrate a suggestive arrangement in a lamp wired for three fllaments. Figure '1 illustrates a similar construction with the exception that four terminal screws 92 are indicated.

I claim:

In an electric lamp, a plurality of filaments, a contact sleeve electrically connected with each fllament, a body of insulating material inside said sleeve, said body of insulating material being provided with a central opening and a recess come municating with the opening, a housing fltting inside said recess and having a neck extending through said central opening, said central opening being flared and said neck being flared to fit the flared part of the opening, said housing having an open end, a plate of insulating material fltting inside the open end of said housing, a plurality of switch terminals, each electrically connected with one of said filaments, a central terminal rotatably disposed in said neck and having a switch arm flxed thereto, said switch armlying inside said housing and adapted toselectively engage said switch terminals through rotation of the central terminal, said central terminal having a groove, and a pin fashioned on said housing and lying in said groove to restrain the central terminal from relative endwise movement inside the neck but permitting rotary movement thereof.

OLIVER B. PAINE. 

